For the #20 episode of We Belong, we travel to Poland to meet Dr. Margaret Amaka Ohia-Nowak, a linguist, a human rights activist and a cross-cultural training facilitator. As a critical discourse analyst, her research focuses on the manifestation of racism against black people in language and discourse. Committed to contribute to a more inclusive society, she is president of “Word Idea”, a training company for promoting diversity, cross-cultural communication, combating racial discrimination, and the violation of human rights of people of African descent in Poland. In conversation with Margaret, we discussed the representation of Black Polish people, the importance of understanding gaslighting and recognizing minorities’ lived experiences in countries where they are constantly alienated.
For the #19 episode of We Belong, we take you to France to meet the singer, activist and artist Thérèse Sayarath. Through her songs, Thérèse wants to contribute to the construction of another image of the French "universality", one that includes all the people. Born in a Parisian suburb from Asian parents, she refuses to be put into a box: she sees herself as a rainbow. The encounter between the sun and the rain. Visible but uncatchable. In conversation with Thérèse, we remembered her early days, growing up in a multicultural neighborhood, but also the identity crisis she faced when she studied in a business school and finally how she found an harmony and a way to express herself through music.
For the #18 episode of We Belong, we take you to the UK to meet the activist Safaa Nait-Charif, a disability activist, content creator and aspiring producer, with a huge passion for storytelling. Safaa has a keen interest in bringing to life multifaceted stories that challenge the mainstream narratives and stereotypes surrounding disability and Islam. During the first lockdown, Safaa explored new formats to share her daily life and break some stereotypes related to her multiple identities and her TikToks went viral. In conversation with Safaa, we discussed the importance of accessibility, how to sparkle educational conversations while using irony and how to better include people with disabilities and narrate their stories with authenticity.
For the #17 episode of We Belong, we take you to Germany to meet the activist Sara Mardini, a Syrian refugee, but most importantly an humanitarian activist, a swimmer and a human rights defender. In 2015 she was hailed as a hero along with her sister Yusra after saving 18 people from drowning on the hazardous journey from Turkey to the Greek islands. Back to Greece as a volunteer, she has been accused of people smuggling and she risks facing up to 25 years in prisons for having helped people. Far from giving up, Sara was listed in the TIME 100 Next List for her humanitarian work and she shared with us some details of their journey, from Syria to Berlin. Her story reflects the silent struggles that thousands of refugees face and helps us reflect on the future of Europe and its values.
For the #16 episode of We Belong, as we celebrate the first anniversary of We Belong and the International Women’s Day, we held a discussion between the cofounders: Jana Degrott and Sumaia Saiboub and our host Yasmine Ouirhrane. Jana Degrott is one of the youngest elected politicians in Luxembourg, while Sumaia Saiboub is the Head of Content at Colory, that narrates stories of second generation immigrant descents in Italy. Both respectively working on politics and on media, they shared common stories, professional and personal challenges they faced this past year, how We Belong impacted their journey, as well as hopes and ambitions for the future!
For the #15 episode of We Belong, we are in Luxembourg to meet Corinne Semedo, a professional dancer, a social worker in psychiatry and the CEO of Heal Confidance. In 2013, she became the first Black woman to ever participate and win a title at Miss Luxembourg. Corinne unveils the discrimination she faced behind the scenes and how this award came with lots of struggles and pressure that impacted her mental health. In conversation with Corinne, we discussed how she started her career as a dancer, but also her passion for social work and how she combines both through her classes at Confidance. Key: https://freepsychotherapynetwork.com/
For the #14 episode of We Belong, we traveled to the Netherlands to meet Samya Hafsaoui, a journalist, presenter and writer. As a journalist, she writes for Vogue and Glamor, among others, and she presented ‘De Taxi Terug‘, a web column in which she accompanied a table guest to their next destination and interviewed them. She also made the series Female Virals on YouTube. She is also the author of “36 questions (and lots of coffee)”, a book with which she hopes to break the taboos surrounding falling in love and relationships among Muslim women. She is currently writing the film readaptation of this romance. In conversation with Samya, we discussed the cultural biases existing in the entertainment industry and how she is disrupting them. Born from a Moroccan father and a Dutch mother, Samya reflects on what shaped her and deconstructs stereotypes around Dutch people and immigrant descents. Key: Tia Taylor Youtube Channel on Finance Literacy: https://www.youtube.com/user/tiataylormakeup
For the #13 episode of We Belong, we go to France to meet Inès Leonarduzzi, the CEO and Founder of Digital for the Planet, which aims to develop digital sustainability and inclusive economy through durable and low-carbon technology. She coined the term “digital ecology” and works along with researchers and scientific experts to bridge sustainability and digitalisation. Named by Forbes as one of the 92 women who are disrupting technology in France, Inès also organizes personal development masterclasses through her initiative ‘Preserve Experience’, available here: preserve-experience.com In conversation with Inès, we discussed her Algerian and Italian roots, the multiple identities sharing her, her childhood in Northern France and her ambition to foster ecology in the digital sector. Key: UPG Sustainability Leadership Program 2021 in USA (Deadline November 30): https://unitedpeople.global/initiatives/sl-apply/
For the #12 episode of We Belong, we are back in the UK to meet Adelaide Damoah RWA FRSA, a British painter and performance artist of Ghanaian descent who uses her body as a “living paintbrush”, the starting point for much of her work. Through arts, she addresses feminism, colonialism, religion and spirituality. As a descendant of Ghanaian parents, Adelaide Damoah has always had a particular interest in colonial history and knew that eventually she would explore the relationship between Ghana and Britain in her work. In 2016, she traveled to Ghana looking for old photographs of her family from the colonial era: it was at this time that she found a very powerful image of her maternal great grandmother which was taken in 1920, when Ghana was the British Gold Coast. In conversation with Adelaide, we discussed her relationship with her body and how she uses arts to discuss feminism, colonialism, racism and identities. Key: Rachel Cargle’s Ted Talk: “Coming to Terms with Racism’s Inertia: Ancestral Accountability”
For the #11 episode of We Belong, we traveled to Belgium to meet Sara Lou, a YouTuber and Digital Marketing Strategist. Along with her two sisters, she is part of the “Molem Sisters” collective from Molenbeek, which aims to share positive narratives from this Brussels municipality. In 2019, she did the cover of the song ‘Balance ton quoi’ by Belgian singer Angèle, echoing the #MeToo Movement, to denounce the Islamophobia experienced by veiled women, such as cyber-harassment or discrimination in hiring. The video quickly created a buzz, exceeding 800.000 views. Listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Xs-EkCW7Ik In conversation with Sara-Lou, we explored the different roles she covers as a full-time Mother, a part-time Entrepreneur and Youtuber. She spends 80% of her time in Molenbeek and she delivers trainings on digital marketing, available here: http://zakietsaralou.com/ Key: Book “The Art of Disruption: A Manifesto for Real Change”, by Magid Magid.